We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Electrical

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is a Shunt Valve?

By Dulce Corazon
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 13,112
Share

A shunt valve is part of a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt used in treating diseases such as hydrocephalus. Hydrocephalus is a condition involving an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), the clear fluid which circulates around the brain and spinal cord, inside the skull. Elevated amounts of fluid in the close confines of the skull can increase pressure inside the head and cause compression of the brain. Placing a VP shunt is usually necessary to relieve this pressure by draining excess fluid in the brain down to other sites of the body. The presence of the shunt valve allows the regulation of the amount of CSF being diverted away from the brain.

Neurosurgeons are doctors who usually perform surgical operations on the brain. Pediatric neurosurgeons are mostly the ones who do operations on pediatric cases, such as on children with congenital hydrocephalus. Congenital hydrocephalus is often seen during birth, and affected babies often present with an enlarged head. This can be due from infections acquired by the mother while pregnant.

The neurosurgeon often operates on the brain in order to place the shunt, which is composed of the shunt valve and two thin tubes or catheters. One of the flexible tubes is implanted into the patient's brain and the other is either placed in the heart chamber, abdominal cavity, or in the spaces around the lungs. A shunt valve, which is attached to the two tubes, is usually positioned behind the ear of the patient. As fluid continues to build up in the brain, it increases the pressure inside. The valve will then open in order to drain out the excess fluid into the other site.

There are two types of hydrocephalus shunt valves most commonly used. One is the adjustable-pressure shunt valve and the other is the fixed-pressure shunt valve. The adjustable type allows the neurosurgeon to adjust the pressure settings without the need for another surgical procedure. With the fixed-pressure shunt valve, the pressure settings are set by the neurosurgeon during the implantation of the shunt.

The neurosurgeon chooses which type of shunt valve depending on the type of hydrocephalus and general health condition of the patient. These shunt valves were designed to regulate the flow of the CSF and prevent over-draining or under-draining. When over-draining of fluid occurs, the patient may feel several symptoms such as headache that worsens when standing, nausea and vomiting, double vision, and drowsiness. On the other hand, if the excess CSF is under-drained, the brain will not be relieved from being compressed and the patient will have periodic headache, decreased mental function, drowsiness, nausea, and vomiting.

Share
About Mechanics is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.aboutmechanics.com/what-is-a-shunt-valve.htm
Copy this link
About Mechanics, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

About Mechanics, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.